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Oxford, UK – 30 March 2006: Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB), the leading gene therapy company, and Cancer Research UK are scheduled to deliver two poster presentations, describing results from Phase II trials of TroVax in colorectal cancer, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, to be held on 2-6 June in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The Company’s US clinical collaborators have had a further two abstracts, covering preliminary results from clinical trials of TroVax in renal cell carcinoma, selected for publication in the ASCO Proceedings. The two colorectal cancer poster presentations and the two renal cell carcinoma abstracts include new data from five clinical trials of TroVax. The titles of the presentations/abstracts are set out below: “Open label Phase II studies of Modified Vaccinia Ankara expressing the tumour antigen 5T4 given in conjunction with IFL and FOLFOX chemotherapy regimens: final analysis of safety and immunogenicity of MVA 5T4 given before, during and after chemotherapy”, to be presented by Dr Richard Harrop, Director Clinical Immunology at Oxford BioMedica. “A vaccinia-based vaccine (TroVax) targeting the oncofetal antigen 5T4 administered before and after surgical resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases: Phase II trial”, to be presented by Dr Adam Dangoor of the Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK. This investigator-initiated trial is sponsored by Cancer Research UK. “A Phase I clinical trial of MVA vaccine expressing 5T4 and high-dose interleukin-2 for metastatic renal cell carcinoma”. The principal investigator for this trial and lead author of the abstract is Dr Howard Kaufmann of the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA. “A Phase II trial to assess the activity of MVA-5T4 plus interleukin-2 in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma”. The principal investigator for this trial and lead author of the abstract is Dr. Robert Amato of the Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA. Oxford BioMedica’s CEO, Professor Alan Kingsman, said: “We are delighted that the Scientific Program Committee of ASCO has accepted all of the abstracts that were submitted for TroVax, and that two abstracts have been selected for presentation. The exposure of TroVax at this prestigious clinical oncology meeting increases year by year, which reflects the expansion of the clinical programme and the encouraging results from these trials.” -ENDS-
Notes to editors1. Oxford BioMedica Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB) is a biopharmaceutical company specialising in the development of novel gene-based therapeutics with a focus on the areas of oncology and neurotherapy. The Company was established in 1995 as a spin out from Oxford University, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Oxford BioMedica has core expertise in gene delivery, as well as in-house clinical, regulatory and manufacturing know-how. In oncology, the pipeline includes two candidates in multiple Phase II trials, and a preclinical targeted antibody therapy in collaboration with Wyeth. A Phase III trial in renal cancer with TroVax, the lead cancer immunotherapy candidate, is planned for 2006. In neurotherapy, the Company’s lead product is a gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease, which is expected to enter clinical development in 2006, and four further preclinical candidates. The Company is underpinned by over 80 patent families, which represent one of the broadest patent estates in the field. The Company has a staff of approximately 70 split between its main facilities in Oxford and its wholly owned subsidiary, BioMedica Inc, in San Diego, California. Oxford BioMedica has corporate collaborations with Wyeth, Intervet, Sigma-Aldrich, Viragen, MolMed, VIRxSYS and Kiadis; and has licensed technology to a number of companies including Merck & Co, Biogen Idec and Pfizer. Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk 2. TroVax® cancer immunotherapy TroVax is Oxford BioMedica’s leading cancer immunotherapy product. It is designed specifically to stimulate an anti-cancer immune response and has potential application in most solid tumour types. TroVax targets the tumour antigen 5T4, which is broadly distributed throughout a wide range of solid tumours. The presence of 5T4 is correlated with poor prognosis. The product consists of a poxvirus (MVA) gene transfer system, which delivers the gene for 5T4 and stimulates a patient’s body to produce an anti-5T4 immune response. This immune response destroys tumour cells carrying the 5T4 protein. TroVax is currently in five Phase II trials, including an investigator initiated trial sponsored by Cancer Research UK. Over 100 patients have been treated with TroVax (collectively over 400 doses) in five clinical trials in colorectal cancer and renal cell carcinoma. Clinical results have shown that the product is safe and stimulates an anti-tumour immune response against 5T4 in the majority of patients. Data from the completed Phase I/II trial and ongoing Phase II trials suggest that the magnitude of the immune response induced by TroVax correlates with clinical benefit including tumour responses and time to disease progression, both of which have exceeded expectation based on published historical data. Preliminary analysis of data from Phase II trials in colorectal cancer with chemotherapy indicates a potential survival benefit. A Phase III trial in renal cell carcinoma is planned to start in 2006. |
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